Thanks as always to SurvivorLDog93 for the fast fingers and outstanding job that he does }^!

Phil: On the flight to Buenos Aires, the lead teams gloated but changed their tune when Rob/Amber showed up. On the Detour, Ray/Deana didn't hide their contempt for Meredith/Gretchen. Susan/Patrick never recovered from boat troubles.

Phil: Buenos Aires, just outside the city, the polo club La Martina. Will Rob/Amber's good luck continue to aggravate Lynn/Alex? Will Merdith/Gretchen get out of last place?

Rob/Amber, CLUE. 3 am. Fly to Johannesburg, South Africa.Fly more than 5,000 miles. When they land, choose a car. Inside, is the next clue. $217 for this leg of the race.Rob/Amber head to the airport in a cab.

Brian/Greg, 3:38 am.

Rob/Amber arrive at the airport. The woman at the counter helps.Stops in Sao Paolo.Rob gets tickets.Arrives Johannesburg, 6:55 am.

Next arriving at day break, Brian/Greg.They ticket.

Uchenna/Joyce, 5:49 am. (Broad daylight, summer)Ron/Kelly, 6:05 am.

If Kelly fractures Spanish one more time before they leave South America ... hmmph.

Lynn/Alex, 6:11 am.

U/J make the airport, followed closely by Ron/Kelly.U/J are told they can't carry backpacks onboard.They check their backpacks.Ron/Kelly are told the same.Lynn/Alex get the last 2 tix on that flight.

Ray/Deana leave the pitstop, 9:20 am.Ray: We're apprehensive. We can't take being in the back of the pack. Hopefully Deana feels the same.

Mere/Gretchen lament being at the back of the pack as they head to the airport.

Ray/Deana ask if there's an earlier flight than the 6:55 arrival.Ray: I hope Meredith and Gretchen get a flat tire on the way to the airport. They don't have time to spare.Mer: The mas pronto posible, por favor.Cabbie drives along ...Airport.Gretchen: Seats available?Man: Yes. Seats available.Gretchen: Thank you

FAST FORWARD.Phil: The first team to complete it can skip all tasks and go to the pitstop. They need to decide when it's most advantageous.This FF, travel 26 miles to Soweto. Balancing 30 stories above the ground, traverse this narrow suspension bridge atop a tower.

DETOUR. Tunnels, or Tribes.Phil: Tunnels, drive 50 miles to underground caves. Rapel 45 feet down, search for a clue.Tribes, travel to this cultural village with native tribes. Find six traditional items. Find each item corresponding to each tribe. When teams collect 5 necklaces, one from each tribe, they get the next clueRay: I want to try the fast forward.Lynn/Alex opt for the Detour.Rob: I say we do it. We don't want to waste time. We want to stay in front.Gretchen: Do we want to rapel?Brian: Rapel? Go thru tunnels? Right?Ron/Kelly and minutes after them, U/J finally get their backpacks. A lone bag circles the carrousel.

Ron/Kelly leave the airport, substantially delayed versus the other teams. U/J still at the airport waiting on their bags.

Rotton Bastard Ray GrrrrrRay: I hope Meredith and Gretchen get a flat tire on the way to the airport. They don't have time to spare , I should spread thumbtacks around

U/J finally get their bags and make their way "to experience Africa."An "our culture" comment from Uchenna.

Rob: We're trying to find Orlando cooling towers.Man gives directions.Rob: We may have lost our opportunity for the FF already.Rob asks another man for directrions.Man: Follow me.Rob: Thanks!

Ray/Deana drive, find the tower.Ray: Take a number! We got this! Come on!Deana: What do we do?Ray: Climb up there!!

At the bottom, they start the ascent up the rails.Ray: Have you done this? Don't look down.They reach the top.Ray: It's all good.Deana: Is it hard?Ray: No.Ray gingerly steps his feet across the narrow plankway above the cooling tower.

Lynn/Alex decide to do Tribes.

Man: Welcome! Lynn/Alex gather stuff.Zulu ... they visit the village with a shield and find out it's the right tribe. One necklace down, four to go.

Uchenna: I'm not sure where on this deal (map) we are.Joyce: We need to ask.Rob: There are the water towers. Somebody up there already.Deana: Good job, babe!Rob: There's a team here. No, two.Man: There's two teams there!Amber: We're banking on the other team not doing it.Ray: Scariest thing I've ever done in my life.Deana: I gotta do it now.

Ron/Kelly get to the caves.Brian/Greg do the caves.Kelly: My pageant training will really come in handy!

A man guides them down the ropes into the cave.

Brian: This is crazy, dude. A black hole.Ron: This rocks! (Or something about "rocks" anyway.)To Kelly: You having a good time, baby?Kelly: You were in the army!

Meanwhile, Ray: You got it! One slat at a time!Rob: This is crazy, waiting.Amber: We might be in last.Deana's halfway.Rob: A chance they might not do it?Amber: No.Rob: You wanna leave? You decide.Amber huffs.Rob: Wanna go? I'm asking you to make a decision. Can you do that? Yes, or no?

Lynn/Alex get the 5th and final necklace.Lynn/Alex get their Soweto CLUE.They mispronounce "Soweto."

Meredith and Gretchen get instructions on rapelling.G: Meet'cha down there!Gretchen, descending: Goodbye, cruel world!Gretchen, warning M: We have to be very careful here.M: This is a dead end.

Uchenna descends.U: Cool!

Ray/Deana, driving.R: Turn left.

Woman: Welcome to Soweto, South Africa.Phil: Ray/Deana, you're team #1. Sometimes there's a prize. We have something special. See those two cars? (Toyota 2005 Rav4, compliments of Toyota USA)Deana: NO!Ray: We had a different mindset today, we attacked the race instead of each other.Deana: Pretty cars

Rob/Amber make the first tribal camp.Wrong item. Wrong tribe.No necklace.Finally they get one.

Brian/Greg look lost heading toward Soweto.

Ron/Kelly finished the cave and head toward Soweto.

Ron/Kelly, ROADBLOCK.Phil: A person has to search this marketplace. Purchase 5 items for a local orphanage. Once you're done, you get the next clue.

Gretchen, lost in the cave: I hate to give up on anything, but do you see any markers?Meredith: I see it!G: Omigod! We might be getting out.Uchenna: We could be lost in here forever. Why didn't we do the tribal thing?

Rob: Your pipe? Thanks! See you later.Rob/Amber gather necklaces quickly.All five and the CLUE.Off to the market in Soweto.

Lynn/Alex get directions for the market.Man: Second off-ramp.

Ron/Kelly get to the market before Greg/Brian.B: God, we suck!

Items ...Diapers, purchased.Toy, done.Backpack, done.Shirts

Outside the cave, Gretchen still hasn't gotten the clue and is looking for a cluebox.G: The clue's in the cave, Meredith.M: Don't be upset. We'll go back and get it.

Uchenna gets the clue, and heads toward Soweto.Joyce: They didn't have a clue!Uchenna: So we know we're better than last.

Gretchen lets out a moan.Meredith: Help us! Help us! Oh, God. Gretchen.Bloody face.Gretchen: I can see four fingers.Meredith: She fell so hard!Gretchen: Find the clue, hon. I've always wanted a face lift! Am I gonna need stitches?Man: Yes.Gretchen: I've got a whole roadblock to do yet.

Kelly: Mission accomplished.Ron/Kelly deliver the goods to the man.CLUE: Now load the items in the car and deliver them to the Orlando Children's Home.Phil: The man there will give them the next clue.

Gretchen: I'm okay. The clue?Meredith goes crawling for it.He finds it.M: You're a real trooper, hon.Bandaged head and Gretchen leaves.M conf: She said she's not leaving. She said get over there and find the clue. That shows me what she's made of.After reading the clue ...Gretchen: I can't go to Soweto looking like THIS!

Amber: I need blanket, shirt, diapers ...

Ron/Kelly arrive at the orphanage to a cheering throng of kids.Woman: Welcome! She gives them the clue.Kelly: Drive yourselves to the next pit stop.Phil: This street is where Mandela used to live. The last team to check in here may be eliminated.Kids cheer as Kelly/Ron leave.Kelly asks directions. A local obliges.Brian/Greg arrive as Kelly/Ron leave.Kids cheer the delivery of the items.Brian/Greg leave, now in 3rd.

Arriving at Ngakane Street ...Phil: Ron/Kelly, you're team #2.Ron: I thought we were #1.Phil: I've seen you guys look cleaner.

Lynn/Alex finish shopping and head for the orphanage.Amber: I need a toy.

Phil: Brian/Greg, you're team #3.

Kids cheer Lynn/Alex.Woman gives them the clue.Off they go to the pitstop.

Uchenna/Joyce see the teeming throng of kids cheering.Uchenna: Wow.Joyce hugs the headmistress.She gives them the clue.Joyce: Bye, kids!Uchenna: Bye.J conf: The orphanage was really special. There are so many unwanted kids in the world. Made me think of my inability of having a child. We've considered adoption. So many kids could use a home like ours.

Gretchen: Don't get too many deals!Gretchen gets the last item. They head for the pitstop.

Phil Mugged M&G }} |( wern't we just kidding about the backpacks being taken away ]:, ?

At the orphanage, M/G get their clue.G: We'll probably be eliminated.M: We might be alive.

Woman: Welcome to Soweto.Phil: Uchenna/Joyce, you're team #6.U: Whoa! Are you serious? I'm still chewing dirt from the caves. This is our home. Our people.Joyce, wiping away tears: The kids were so sweet. So precious. Bless their hearts.U: This has been the most special moment, the entire race.

Woman: Welcome to Soweto.Phil: Meredith/Gretchen, you're the last team to arrive. The good news is, this is a non-elimination leg and you're both still in The Amazing Race. There's a penalty. Hand over everything in your pockets. You'll not be receiving any money in the next leg.Gretchen: I know.Phil: And I have some more bad news. I need you to hand over your possessions, including your bags. Hand over everything except your passports and your clothes. Literally, just passports and the clothes on your backs.Meredith: So even if we get back in it, we have nothing?Phil: You'll have to find the resources to get back in it. Don't give it up.Gretchen: We have only each other. ]**]Meredith: We're soulmates. We're in it until we can't take another step forward. ]&]

Uchenna/Joyce leave the pitstop.Six teams have money. One team, M/G have none.M conf: Bare naked.G conf: When you take the weapons from the warriors, it's hard to fight.Gretchen puts the passports in a plastic bag.She looks like **** warmed over.G conf: I feel like someone took sandpaper and scraped my face, but I'm happy to be alive.

Uchenna, daybreak, driving toward the park.Gretchen and Meredith arrive at the park.Last place now, Uchenna arrives.

Meredith: Uchenna/Joyce came to our door last night and handed us a bag of clothes.Gretchen to the assembled racers: We're starting the save a rhino fund, and we're no rhinos.Meredith: Thanks. This is repayable, you know.Rob snarks.Ray refuses to give anything to Meredith.Ray: Not right now.Ray conf: They're sacrificial lambs.

Man: Here are the pieces of meat we will feed to the lions.First shuttle with three teams, feeds the lions.Wow ... hungry!Finished.CLUE, Ray/Deana/Ron/Kelly/Greg/Brian: Fly to Botswana.Phil: The city of Gaborone, then by train and bus to this giant aardvark in Gweta for the next clue.

Amber, sarcastically: Just remain calm if the lion jumps into the vehicle.Alex: I wanted to see giraffes!All four remaining teams are on the second shuttle.They toss meat and marvel at the lions.

Lead three teams ...Back to J'burg International.Ron/Kelly are told earliest flight is 1:35 pm.Another equalizer?

Brian/Greg get a 12:00 flight.Unclear whether Ron/Kelly will get the same flight.Woman books their tickets.Ray/Deana last in the first group not yet arriving at the airport.Ray mad at Deana for getting lost.Finally they arrive and get tix to Botswana.

Lynn: Pick someone (for directions) who looks least likely to have a gun.Alex: I'll pay you to drive me there.They find someone in a red truck to escort them.

Getting on the plane, Meredith/Gretchen.Arriving at the airport, Lynn/Alex.Lynn/Alex get the plane with Rob/Amber and M/G.

Botswana.Animals await.

Ron: Should we just get a taxi?Taxis take the teams to the train station.Gaborone, "Botswana Railways."Francistown train doesn't leave until 9:00 p.m.EQUALIZER.Rob/Amber get the shaft from Lynn/Alex, who refuse them (well, psych them out of) a ride on an empty matatu.

Alex: I don't want to share a cab with them. I like my air conditioning and I don't want to be crowded.

Train station, Rob arrives.Lynn/Alex arrive.Lynn: There wasn't any room.Rob conf: Lynn may be able to treat Alex like a little farm boy, but I'm done being nice. I'm not even sure Gretchen fell. Meredith may have pushed her for effect.

Phil: All 7 teams are on the same team to Greta, to find this giant aardvark.

ROADBLOCK.All 7 teams together.Who's got good aim?Phil: A hunting/training exercise for Bushmen. Hit a moving target with a spear for the next clue.

A big bag hangs from a tree and swings.That's the 'moving target'An elderly man watches as they toss spears and miss.It's like a bad ep of Survivor.Brian is first to hit the target.

Brian, CLUE: Drive yourselves to the cattle post.Phil: They'll drive to the Xau Xarra, for the next clue.Ron/Kelly in 2nd, get in the vehicle first and take the lead.Lynn/Alex in 3rd.Ray finishes in 4th and yells at Deana to hurry.Uchenna finishes in 5th.Rob and Meredith struggle.Amber: He loses patience quickly.Meredith hits.Gretchen: Good for you, honey!Rob: UGGGGHHHH!!Finally Rob hits.Amber: Come on, baby!Rob: Are we last?Amber: yeah.

Uchenna/Joyce inexplicably are last to get back into their trucks.Meredith/Gretchen took over 5th, Rob/Amber 6th.

Driving down a narrow dirt road, bumps and bushes.

Gretchen: Bush country? Not President Bush, either!

Rob/Amber pass Meredith/Gretchen driving, in a wide spot in the road.Rob/Amber prepare to pass Ray/Deana.Deana is driving, and Ray is pissed.Ray: Dammit! Critical mistakes!Gretchen: The bush policeman might give us a ticket.Meredith: Tell me less about slowing down and more about markers.

In the lead, Ron/Kelly and Brian/Greg are flying.Brian: The sand is so slippery!Brian/Greg skid in the slippery sand.They lose control.They overturn.

Voices: Omigod! Omigod!Lynn/Alex stop to see who's hurt.Someone is very hurt alongside the van.Brian/Greg are okay; it's a crewman.

Rob: We don't want anybody to get hurt.Rob/Amber drive by.Rob: No way we're stopping.Lynn: That's typical of their game plan.

Kelly, CLUE: DETOUR, Food, or Water?Phil: Food, use a traditional container, a kika, and grind corn. Fill to the line for the next clue.Water, suck water from underground, fill 12 ostrich eggs with water for the next clue.

Lynn/Alex complain that Rob/Amber didn't stop.Deana/Ray stop long enough to see they're okay, then drive on.Gretchen: Don't break the car.Meredith: You want to go home tonight?Gretchen: No, but I don't want my bladder in my chest cavity, either.

Gretchen/Meredith pass by the accident.The accident scene is being attended to by rescue vehicles.Uchenna/Joyce pass the scene.